Threadgrafting question

[DustyRusty]

Hi everyone,

I've thread grafted a ficus rubiginosa 'little ruby' onto a regular old ficus rubiginosa. I want to see if it might be a way to grow little ruby without the painfully slow growth rate.

I did the graft a few months ago. The wound has healed up around it but still no thickening in the exit side of the graft, so little ruby remains connected to her rootstock. So far I've let the top of the tree grow like crazy to speed up the cambium closing over the graft. My question is this: is it best to continue letting it grow like crazy or should i prune the top in an effort for the tree's energy to be diverted to the graft?

Hope this works. I'll run a comparison to a regular PJ and a regular little ruby and post the results - will probably be next growing season...

[shibui]

I have not done this but my guess would be to allow both to continue to grow freely (more growth should = quicker thickening and healing at the graft site) until you are satisfied that union has occurred before cutting the top of the rootstock back.

and keep us updated.

[dansai]

Maybe a photo too

[DustyRusty]

You guys love your photos don't you

Here's three: one from side, front and overall picture with trawl for size comparison.

[bodhidharma]

I have done a fig graft but it takes about 18 months to two years to attach the two cambiums for it to survive.

[dansai]

So I'm guessing the 'Little Ruby' is a cutting planted in the same pot

Looks like the 'Little Ruby' needs to swell a fair bit more until a successful union is achieved. I did a thread graft on a PJ to itself a few months ago and like yours had good swelling and callus on the trunk and less so on the branch. I wounded around the site on both trunk and branch just exposing cambium hoping to accelerate the union. I'll keep you posted.

[DustyRusty]

Thanks. I realise it's not ready to cut. No thickening yet. My question wasn't 'is the graft ready?' It was, 'should I prune the top to divert more energy to the graft?'

Bodhi thanks. The guides I read said figs grafted quickly! I noticed this was slow which concurs with your experience. Oh well. Will keep growing until it's ready...

[Boics]

My thoughts are that I would make sure the Little Ruby (LR) is receiving as much sun as possible.
It's the thickening of this section that will happen the soonest and ultimately speed the process of (potential) union.

Having said this the stock tree's thickening will also help so anything to improve the girth of this tree will also help your cause.

Summary = sun to both trees - especially the LR.

[DustyRusty]

My thoughts are that I would make sure the Little Ruby (LR) is receiving as much sun as possible.
It's the thickening of this section that will happen the soonest and ultimately speed the process of (potential) union.

Having said this the stock tree's thickening will also help so anything to improve the girth of this tree will also help your cause.

Summary = sun to both trees - especially the LR.

hmmm. yes good thought. At the moment LR gets some sun, but the heavy top of the PJ blocks a lot. Pruning back would help, but maybe I'll get the old wire out and move the PJ branches out of the way....

[anthonyW]

Where is the thread coming from( ie same pot,own pot)you need balance, take the dominant top out and cut laterals back of host,we want the graft to dominate (light and feed) when exit is bigger than approach simply sever,little ruby will take a little bit longer, slower growing habit,where their is life,their is hope,be patient...cheers

[DustyRusty]

Where is the thread coming from( ie same pot,own pot)you need balance, take the dominant top out and cut laterals back of host,we want the graft to dominate (light and feed) when exit is bigger than approach simply sever,little ruby will take a little bit longer, slower growing habit,where their is life,their is hope,be patient...cheers

Own pot buried inside same pot.

[anthonyW]

Hi Dusty sounds fine to me,wow I just noticed all the chookpoo on enlarging your pic,but I would still prune to let light in as Boics mentioned and I totally agree with because without it,it will be a very slow road...good work Dusty,keep us in the show, much appreciated,just like you I'm thread grafting a variegated leaf bengi on to a PJF(early stages at the moment)maybe put that up later for interest.. cheers

[DustyRusty]

One guy wire later and little ruby is now a sun goddess...

[Dario]

You could also try feeding the foliage of the graft? It might help it along?
As I understand it you need the top to grow vigorously and pull sap to help the union fuse. But if it is over powering the graft then a bit of judicious pruning may well help...you will know this when you observe how they both do over time.
If it does over power the graft too much and as a result the graft is suffering etc, I would treat it somewhat like a lions tail on a jbp (but not as severely)...leave the main leader and prune the laterals (you can also defoliate a little but leave the growth tip and some leaves at the top of the main leader). So I assume it comes down to balancing energy.
Giving the graft more light should help
I give the above as a suggestion only if the graft is looking unwell. Otherwise I would try the foliar feeding the graft and just let them both grow with no pruning until they have fused.
I agree with your thinking that a little ruby should grow faster than usual on a more vigorous root stock but it will be good to know for sure. So good luck and please keep us updated.
Cheers, Dario.